Appleton earns accreditation from American Alliance of Museums

Published: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 3:32 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 3:32 p.m.

The Appleton Museum of Art has earned a prestigious accreditation that only 6 percent of museums nationwide have obtained, officials announced Wednesday.

The Appleton is one of only 50 museums in Florida to be awarded accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM.)

College of Central Florida President Jim Henningsen made the announcement at the CF board of trustees meeting on Wednesday, with Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn presenting the board and museum leadership with a proclamation from the city.

Henningsen said AAM evaluators who visited the Appleton remarked that it is one of the most impressive museums in the nation, including those operated by major universities.

"This is a huge accomplishment," said Henningsen, adding the accreditation means the Appleton will be able to obtain even more elite art collections. The accreditation is good through 2022.

Cindi Morrison, the Appleton's director, credited the museum's staff, faculty and CF trustees, who all worked "diligently to help us earn this honor and to be recognized for upholding and sustaining the national standards and best practices for U.S. museums."

The accreditation process was rigorous. AAM officials examined all aspects of a museum's operations. The AAM accreditation recognizes the facility's quality assurance, self-regulation, public accountability, commitment to excellence in governance, collections stewardship, public programs, financial stability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement.

"Accreditation assures the people of Ocala that their museum is among the finest in the nation," AAM President Ford W. Bell said in a press release. "As a result, the citizens can take considerable pride in their homegrown institution, for its commitment to excellence and for the value it brings to the community."

The Appleton Museum of Art was founded in 1982, a gift from Arthur I. Appleton. After the city of Ocala donated the 44-acre site for the museum, construction began in 1984, opening three years later.

It now boasts 16,000 artifacts, including European, American, Asian, African, contemporary and pre-Columbian art. It also features a series of temporary traveling exhibitions.

In 2001, the Appleton featured artwork of Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet, creating a national buzz that helped further cement the Appleton as a world-class museum.

The immaculate 81,000-square-foot facility on Silver Springs Boulevard has had several significant exhibits recently, including "New World Treasures: Artifacts from Hernando De Soto's Florida Expedition" and "Rebels With a Cause: American Impressionist Women from the Huntsville Museum of Art."

The state Legislature ponies up all but about $400,000 of the museum's $1.9 million annual budget.

Nearly a decade ago, Florida State University — which had partnered with CF to run the museum since 1990 — pulled its $1 million funding.

Lawmakers agreed to cover the shortfall, provided CF's administrators and the CF Foundation let FSU out of its commitment. CF then worked out a deal to take over the facility.

To learn more about the Appleton Museum, visit www.AppletonMuseum.org.

Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.

<p>The Appleton Museum of Art has earned a prestigious accreditation that only 6 percent of museums nationwide have obtained, officials announced Wednesday.</p><p>The Appleton is one of only 50 museums in Florida to be awarded accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM.)</p><p>College of Central Florida President Jim Henningsen made the announcement at the CF board of trustees meeting on Wednesday, with Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn presenting the board and museum leadership with a proclamation from the city.</p><p>Henningsen said AAM evaluators who visited the Appleton remarked that it is one of the most impressive museums in the nation, including those operated by major universities.</p><p>"This is a huge accomplishment," said Henningsen, adding the accreditation means the Appleton will be able to obtain even more elite art collections. The accreditation is good through 2022.</p><p>Cindi Morrison, the Appleton's director, credited the museum's staff, faculty and CF trustees, who all worked "diligently to help us earn this honor and to be recognized for upholding and sustaining the national standards and best practices for U.S. museums."</p><p>The accreditation process was rigorous. AAM officials examined all aspects of a museum's operations. The AAM accreditation recognizes the facility's quality assurance, self-regulation, public accountability, commitment to excellence in governance, collections stewardship, public programs, financial stability, high professional standards, and continued institutional improvement.</p><p>"Accreditation assures the people of Ocala that their museum is among the finest in the nation," AAM President Ford W. Bell said in a press release. "As a result, the citizens can take considerable pride in their homegrown institution, for its commitment to excellence and for the value it brings to the community."</p><p>The Appleton Museum of Art was founded in 1982, a gift from Arthur I. Appleton. After the city of Ocala donated the 44-acre site for the museum, construction began in 1984, opening three years later.</p><p>It now boasts 16,000 artifacts, including European, American, Asian, African, contemporary and pre-Columbian art. It also features a series of temporary traveling exhibitions.</p><p>In 2001, the Appleton featured artwork of Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet, creating a national buzz that helped further cement the Appleton as a world-class museum.</p><p>The immaculate 81,000-square-foot facility on Silver Springs Boulevard has had several significant exhibits recently, including "New World Treasures: Artifacts from Hernando De Soto's Florida Expedition" and "Rebels With a Cause: American Impressionist Women from the Huntsville Museum of Art."</p><p>The state Legislature ponies up all but about $400,000 of the museum's $1.9 million annual budget.</p><p>Nearly a decade ago, Florida State University — which had partnered with CF to run the museum since 1990 — pulled its $1 million funding.</p><p>Lawmakers agreed to cover the shortfall, provided CF's administrators and the CF Foundation let FSU out of its commitment. CF then worked out a deal to take over the facility.</p><p>To learn more about the Appleton Museum, visit www.AppletonMuseum.org.</p><p><i>Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.</i></p>